Echeveria Plant Named &#39;AMIECH 1606&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria agavoides  cultivar named ‘AMIECH1606’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant shape, foliage arranged in a compact rosette, broad ovate foliage with a short apiculate apex, yellow-green juvenile foliage emerging from the center of the rosette which is suffused with greyed-purple towards the apex, foliage which becomes progressively suffused with greyed-purple with age and exposure to ultraviolet light and with margins becoming vivid red, mature foliage at the outermost whorls of the rosette which is generally colored greyed-purple, suffused with grey towards the apex and margined vivid red, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria agavoides.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH1606’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH1606’ is a seedling selection resulting from the self-pollination of the species, Echeveria agavoides. The crossing was made by the inventor in the autumn of 2011 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Seed from said cross was harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings were then grown to a mature size. In summer of 2013, one seedling was observed to exhibit unique foliage characteristics and growth habit. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIECH1606’ was selected for commercialization in the autumn of 2014.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH1606’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2015 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH1606’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIECH1606’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIECH1606’ as a new and distinct Echeveria agavoides cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH1606’ exhibits foliage arranged in a compact rosette;         and     -   2. ‘AMIECH1606’ exhibits broad ovate foliage with a short         apiculate apex; and     -   3. ‘AMIECH1606’ exhibits yellow green juvenile foliage emerging         from the center of the rosette, which is suffused with         greyed-purple towards the apex; and     -   4. ‘AMIECH1606’ exhibits foliage which becomes progressively         suffused with greyed-purple with age and exposure to ultraviolet         light, margins becoming vivid red, moving outward from the         center of the rosette; and     -   5. ‘AMIECH1606’ exhibits mature foliage at the outermost whorls         of the rosette which is generally colored greyed-purple,         suffused with grey towards the apex, and margined vivid red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIECH1606’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown planted in an 11 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIECH1606’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the foliage color from the center of the rosette (juvenile foliage) to the outer most whorl of the rosette (mature foliage) of ‘AMIECH1606’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIECH1606’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2016 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 9 months old ‘AMIECH1606’ plants grown in 11 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH1606’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH1606’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator, Echeveria agavoides, is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—8.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 18.1 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 21 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop             time — Approximately 18 to 22 weeks to produce a marketable             plant in an 11 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria agavoides             pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 42 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are obovate to near             oblong.         -   Dimensions.—7.5 cm long, 4.2 cm wide, and 1.3 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Flat to slightly concave and carinate.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy; lightly to             moderately pruinose.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy; lightly to             moderately pruinose.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, in             between RHS N148C and N148D; margins and distal portion of             the leaf surface towards the apex are in between             greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 177A, and greyed-red, nearest             to RHS 178A; apex is greyed-purple, RHS 183B. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, in between RHS 193A             and 193B; distal portion of the leaf surface towards the             apex is greyed-orange, in between RHS 176B and 177A, yet             slightly darker; apex is greyed-purple, RHS 183B. Mature             foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS             N176B, and suffused with grey towards the apex, nearest to             RHS 201A; base is yellow-green, in between RHS 145D and             150D; margined greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C.             Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS             182B, and suffused with grey towards the apex, nearest to             RHS 201A; base is yellow-green, in between RHS 145C and             145D; margined greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plant and closest known comparator:     Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH1606’ differ from the parent,     Echeveria agavoides, which is also the closest known comparator, in     the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH1606’ Echeveria agavoides Leaf thickness. Thicker then the parent. Thinner than ‘AMIECH1606’. Leaf apex. Short apiculate. Acute. Leaf width. Wider than the parent. Narrower than ‘AMIECH1606’. General colora- Greyed-purple and suffused Yellow-green and suffused tion of mature with grey towards the apex; with greyed-purple towards foliage. margined vivid red the apex and margins. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveria agavoides plant named ‘AMIECH1606’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 